Elections must - and can - go ahead say John Milne MP, Liberal Democrats and even Tory MPs

John Milne, Liberal Democrat MP for Horsham, and Ben Dempsey, the Lib Dem candidate for Sussex Mayor, have condemned the Government's statement on allowing County Councils to request the cancellation of elections in Sussex.

Meanwhile, Cllr Martin Boffey, Liberal Democrat Leader of Horsham District Council which administers local elections, said “Horsham District Council stands 100% ready to carry out this duty for our residents,” rebuffing government concerns about capacity.

Yesterday in the House of Commons, the Minister of State (Housing, Community and Local Government) read out a statement informing MPs the Government would seek the views of county council leaders regarding their local capacity to deliver local government reorganisation alongside elections, allowing for elections to be cancelled again, and effectively extending what should have been four-year terms to seven.

The Conservative-controlled West Sussex County Council had already requested the cancellation of the county elections for a second year running, to avoid certain defeat and loss of power at County Hall.

Liberal Democrat MP for Horsham, John Milne, commented:

“The government's announcement to give council leaders the power to further delay elections is deeply concerning.

“The dysfunctional Conservative administration at West Sussex County Council will surely grab this chance to cling onto power for yet another year past their sell-by date.

Further delays are unacceptable; we cannot continue to deny residents their democratic voice.”

Meanwhile, even Conservative MPs have voiced their concerns, calling for elections to go ahead, clearly unaligned with their Conservative Council colleagues.

Alison Griffith, Conservative MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, called this a “disgraceful decision” and asked the minister to explain why her residents’ “fundamental right to have their say at the ballot box is now being taken away.”

Ben Dempsey, Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of Sussex, said:

“This is a democratic farce. The government is essentially asking Conservative council leaders if they would like to grant themselves an extra year in power. It is like a teacher asking a student if they’d prefer to skip their exams because they aren’t ready.

"The whole process has been an utter shambles. First, the May 2025 county elections were delayed with the promise of a new Mayor. Then, the government cancelled those Mayoral elections. Now, they are inviting the Sussex Tories to help them finish the job by 'requesting' a further delay to the county elections.

Cllr Martin Boffey, Liberal Democrat Leader of Horsham District Council, responded to the Government:

“It is most definitely not the case that as a council, Horsham District would struggle with capacity to hold elections and manage the demands of Local Government Reorganisation.  It is the statutory responsibility of District and Borough Councils in West Sussex, not the County Council, to conduct elections and Horsham District Council stands 100% ready to carry out this duty for our residents.

“On behalf of Horsham District Council, I deeply regret the implication from the Minister for Local Government yesterday that Councils might be unable to meet this important obligation.

“The right to vote is precious and I would like to reassure residents it is something that Horsham District Council and its leadership take very seriously.  We will not let them down in this regard and if they are denied the opportunity to vote it will not be through the actions or inactions of this Council.”

The government has asked for representations from councils by 15 January. 

Residents are encouraged to sign a petition to “End the stitch-up” and tell the Labour Government to rule out any further delays to local elections; visit www.johnmilne.org.uk/stitch-up. Voters must not be denied their right to cast their ballot this May.

You can also write to your West Sussex County Council leader Paul Marshall, at paul.marshall@westsussex.gov.uk, expressing your views on whether or not elections should go ahead.